LOVETT, Gilbert Thurgate
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 October 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | New Town, Tasmania, Australia, 20 June 1890 |
| Home Town: | New Town, Hobart, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | University of Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France, 1 August 1918, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
La Kreule Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck II E 8 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hobart Roll of Honour, Melbourne Grammar School WW1 Fallen Honour Roll, North Hobart Friends' School Honour Roll, Tasmanian Amateur Athletics Association, University of Tasmania |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Melbourne | |
| 7 Apr 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 27 Jul 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 6 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 17 Apr 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, 8th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, Shell wound (mouth) | |
| 1 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, 8th Infantry Battalion, "Peaceful Penetration - Low-Cost, High-Gain Tactics on the Western Front", --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 8 Battalion awm_rank: Captain awm_died_date: 1918-08-01 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
GILBERT THURGATE LOVETT who was killed in action on 1st August 1918 became a member of the Melbourne CofE Grammar School Staff in 1914, coming to us from The Friends School, Hobart.
He enlisted at the beginning of 1915, joining the 22nd Battalion, and being given his commission on 29th October 1915. He was on 7th April 1916 transferred to the 8th Battalion, in which he was promoted to Lieutenant on 27th July 1916 and to Captain on 6th October 1917.
He met his death as follows: With a Lieutenant he had gone out to visit some posts. On the way he noticed the flash of an enemy machine gun, and they halted on a small rise to watch it. Two shots went through the Lieutenant's gas mask (suspended on his chest) and hit Captain Lovett, who died almost instantaneously. He was buried in the British Military Cemetery at La Kreule not far from Merris.
A fellow-officer speaks of him as the best company commander and one of the cleverest officers the battalion ever had. He was Mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's Despatches of 7th November 1917.
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